SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday said the Palace cannot circumvent the law and just issue a new martial law proclamation if Congress does not extend Proclamation 216 placing the entire Mindanao under military rule. Drilon maintained that “only Congress” has the power to extend martial law, contrary to the claim of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo that the President can issue another proclamation if lawmakers do not agree to an extension. “The Constitution is clear that it is Congress that has the power to extend martial law and the President may only recommend. The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the legality of the President’s Proclamation 216 placing Mindanao under martial law after the Maute extremist group seized Marawi City on May 23. The 60-day validity of Proclamation 216 ends on July 22, two days before the President’s second State of the Nation Address.

Source: Manila Times July 06, 2017 16:30 UTC